Rack



1931- s. EDELHEIT 1,835,764

RACK I Filed May 29, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 8, 1931 BACK.

Application filed. May 29,

This invention relates to a rack; more par ticularly, a wardrobe rack for such articles of apparel as ties and the'like.

It is an object of my invention to provide 1 a rack in the nature of a display device or an accessory for a wardrobe whereby articles of apparel may be conveniently and compactly stored and made readily accessible and examinable, should it be found desirable,

1o whereby when a plurality of articles of apto provide a racki-n the nature of a display device, which maybe used tohold and dis- I play a plurality of articles, particularly arr not in use.

ticles of apparel, such as ties, to make the same readily accessible forobservation and handling, and which may be compactly folded, as against a retaining wall for the rack, whereby the same may be conveniently assembled upon a closet door or wardrobe, to take up the minimum amount of space, when t is contemplated by my invention to provide a distensible rack for articles of apparel, such as neckties, whereby independent articles'supported fro-m the rack are made readily accessible for observation and handling, the rack being susceptible of coir-' pact folding, serving also simultaneously to stack the articles against relative displacement and clamp the same into position in a compact manner.

Other objects of my mvent on reside in the provision of a combined hanger and'rack for articles of apparel, such as neckties, of simple design and construction, whereby "ar ticles may be stored in 'a minimumjamount of space, and clamped into position against displacement, and at the same. time afford" ready means of displaying and rendering available articles for inspection, with maximum facility.

To attain these objects and such furtherobjects .as may appear herein or beherein:

1930. Serial No. 457,223.'

afterlpointed 0111;,1 make reference'to the accompanying drawings, forming a parthereof,- in which-- r r Figure 1 is a plan view of my device inlthe distended position;

Figure 2 is a similar view, with the device in the collapsed position; I

Figure 3 is'a'section taken on the line3-3 ofFigure 2; f

' Figure 4 is'a view similar toFigure 3 with the hangers in the finally pivoted position; Figure 5 is asection' taken on the line 55 of Figure 8;

Figure 6 is a'view similar .to Figure 4, with thelazy tongs distended;

' Figure 7 is a perspective viewof one of the hanger elements; r e I Figure 8 isa detailed perspective'view of the latch and'pi'ntlemechanism.

Making reference to the drawings, my device comprises generally a supporting,v

bracket 10, arranged to be affixed to a supporting member, such as a wall, a door, the wall of a wardrobe,- the wall of a casing or show case, and any. other suitable fixture. It is contemplated by myinventi'on, as one of its desirable components, to provide an ex.- tensible frame to which hangers may be at: fixed. The frame, so mounting the hangers, may be moved to a position providing ready access thereto so-that any articles suspended from the hangers may be easily inspected, and otherwise facilely handledi When not in use for the purposes indicated, the' distensible member supporting the hangers and the hangcrs carried thereby may be compressed against the wall and then folded in substantial par-- allelism to'the wall,'tooccupy the minimum; space,

' Makingfurther reference to the drawings, it will be observed that in the embodiment illustrated, the distensible frame 11 is composed of a plurality of substantiallyequal branches 12 and connecting sections 13, pivoted by pin connections to theextremities of the branches 12and.mid-points-thereof, as shown at 14 and 15, respectively, thusfornk ing' a framein the nature of lazy tongs. The free ends 16 and 17 of: the branches 12,,and 13, respectively, are pivotally connectedby pins to links 18 and 19, respectively. Each of these members is fastened to an angle plate 20, the link 18 being held rigidly by a pair of fastening members or rivets 21, whereas the link 19 has a single pin 22, permitting free pivotal movement of the link 19. A pin 23 serves as an abutment or stop for the link 19, limiting the inward pivotal movement of the link, as will be more clearly observed as this description proceeds. The angle plate 20, previously described, has inwardly turned ears 24 and 25, to either side thereof, arranged to be nested within the branches 26 and 27 of the bracket 10. The ears 24 and 25 and the branches 26 and 27 are provided with cooperative orifices 28 and 29, through which there is passed the latch shaft 30, serving as a pintle permitting pivotal operation of the angle plate relatively to the bracket 10. L

' As: it is contemplated by me to lock the frame formed by thelazy tongs in the horizontal position, as 'more particularly illustrated in the views in Figures 1, 2, 3,5 and 6, the angle plate 20 is provided with latching mechanism, to hold the frame in this predetermined position. For purposes of accomplishing this result, the cars 24 and and the branches 26 and 27 are provided with aligned orifices 31 and 32, eccentrically positione d from the orifices 28 and 29, previously referred to, in which is guided'the shaft 30. As previously indicated, the shaft 30 is freely pivotal within the orifices 28 and 2-9 of the ears '24and- 25 andthebranches 26 and 27 The free ends of the shaft extend beyond these members and to the extremity 33 carried thereby, against the branch 27.

to the right hand side, there is keyed a collar 34. This collar carries interiorly thereof a pin 35, eccentrically positioned to correspond to the orifices31and' 32, respectively. Intermediate the length ofthe shaft, adja cent the car 24, there is aflixed the finger 36, carrying the pin 37.- The pin 37 is eccentrically disposed'to correspond and align with the orifices 31 and 32 formed in the ear 24 and.

branch 26, respectively.

Whenmounted in position, as illustrated,

a helical spring38 is disposed upon the shaft 30, bearing against the ear, 25 and a collar 39,"prov1ded with a set screw'40, serving by reason of the resilient action of the helical springto. urge the-collar 34 and the pin-35, The finger 36, to the, opposite end of the shaft 30,1s given complementary movement by the collar 41, held in position bythe set screw 42.

Thus. by theaction of the resilient spring 38,

the entire shaft 30 is held against longitudinal d splacement and always serves to urge the pins 35 and 37, respectively, towards the latching position. I

etweenth'e finger 36 the ear 24, and mounted upon'the'shaft 30 atthis point, there is "disposed a" short length of helical spring 43 for purposes of absorbing the shock of the movement of the shaft 30, as may be introduced by the longer and more powerful spring 38 at the opposite end, and also for setting the finger 36 in desired position.

At the free end 44 of the shaft 30, there is provided a button 45, preferably screw threaded to the shaft 30, or otherwise making engagement therewith, to facilitate longitudinal shifting movement of the shaft 30. The button positioned on the shaft 30 so as to leave a section 46, equivalent substantially to the thickness of the material forming the branch 26, thereby limiting the longitudinal sliding movement of the shaft. 7 To permit unlatching or unlocking of the plate 20 and the lazy tong extensible member 11 carried thereby, the button 45 is pressed to longitudinally shift the entire shaft 30. This action carries the collar 34 therewith and thereby removes the pin 35 from the orifice 31 in the ear 25. Simultaneously with this action, the spring 43 presses against the fin er'46 and likewise disengages the finger 37 110111 the orifice 32 in the branch 26. This L 1 operation facilitates the, pivotal movement of the plate 20 and the entire frame or, lazy tongs carried thereby to thevertical position shownin Figure 4.

The construction heretofore described pro- 'vides' an extensible frame which may be disposed either in the vertical position or in the horizontal position or, more generally stated, the frame 11 may be positionedto be disposed transversely to the supporting wall 21's; for the bracket 10 or parallel to the same, and

in either position, the lazy tongs may be distended to the full length, and particularly when extended to apositiOn transverse to the supporting wall or at right angles thereto, the

latchin mechanism provided will serve to hold the same in this relationship.

As it is contemplated by me, in my preferred form,to provide an apparel rack particularly suitable for such articles as ties, ,1

1 furthercontemplate disposing from the. sections 11, hangers for conveniently holding such articles of apparel and in the embodiment now to be described, the extensible frame previously described is illustrated as particularly applicable for purposes of providing arack having utility in connection with storing, mounting or displaying ties. For this purpose, each of the sections 12 of the lazy tongs, formed of metal straps, has 1. 1.21

downwardly disposed ears 12a and 12?), of graduated length, with the shortest toward the outer extremity of the lazy tongs, as more clearly illustrated in Figures 3 and 4. In

each of these cars there is provided orifices within the orifices 120, in the ears 12a and 126, respectively. Ofiset portions 50 and 51,

formed in the stamping, serve to engage the stops 52 and 53, formed on the ears 12a and 12b, to thereby limit the pivotal movement of thehangers 47, as Will be readily appre-- which there is mounted the bar 47d. This construction provides each hanger 47 with a plurality of spaced stalls, dividing'the bar or rod 47d into spaces for independently holding articles of apparel.

By the particular construction provided as more clearly illustrated in Figures 1 and 2,

each of the hangers 47, supported from the sections 12, may be held in position wherein each. of the stalls is readily accessible for mounting any number of ties and holding the same conveniently for inspection. Also, with the rack in this position, the ties may be arranged in an orderly manner, and permitted to hang in a condition where they will not be wrinkled, as will be readily understood.

IVith the ties thus arranged, the entire rack may be then folded to occupy the minimum amount of space against the supporting wall, which condition is attained by compressing the members of the lazy tongs, as shown in Figure 2. .To hold the lazy tongs in this position, I may provide a latch 15a mounted upon the outermost pin 15, and which is-provided with an extension 156 for pivotally supporting this latch. In the compressed position of the lazy tongs, this latch engages an extension 150, upon the innermost pin 15.

With the lazy tongs thus assembled, I may still further fold the rack to occupy the minimum space by pressing the button 45, to thereby unlatch the fingers 35 and 37, as previously described, and permit the entire frame 11, carried by the angle plate 20, to move to a position in parallelism with the support ing wall for the bracket 10 which, in the example illustrated wherein the frame carries the hangers 47 the pivotal movement of the frame 11 isto the vertical position, more distens'ible section formed of interconnected clearly illustrated in Figure 4. In this position, also, the hangers 47 will occupy a vertical position and thereby properly suspend the articles of apparel which may be mounted thereon which, by reason of the overlapping position occupied by the hangers, will serve to hold the articles of apparel, such as. the ties, mounted from the bars 4761, against shifting movement. This type of construction is admirably suitable for mounting articles of apparel, such as neckties, when the rack is affixed to a portable device, such as a wardrobe trunk, and the pivotal moi ement of the frame 11. to the vertical position not only serves to move the entire rack to. a posi tion where it occupies the minimum space said'links.

zbutla'lsolserves to clamp thearticles mounted from the hangers againstshifting movement. 'i'llhoughI'liave describedmy rack as being of. .aisizeiand form iniconnection witlrarticles of apparek such as neckwear, :there is ;pr1- -marily for .purposes of illustrating one embodiment ofmy:invention. The'lsize and form may be varied with-other articles ofap- :patrel onmerchandise for-purposes useful as heretofore" mentioned of rendering the articles conveniently accessible for inspection and arrangement, providing .axconstructio'n wh ch, when not in use, occupies the minimum amount of space.

- Having thus described my invention and illustrated 'its use, whatI claim as new. and desire to secure by LettersPatent, is

'1; Ina rack of the character described, a

wall engaging bracket, lazy tongs disposed from said bracket, .nieans for pivotally inounting said lazy tongs relatively 'tosaid bracket, said pivotal mounting means including latching means .to locksaid lazy tongslin predetermined angular position to said ubracket.

2. Ina rack of the character described, :a

distensible section comprising interconnected .pivotal links, means for mounting said distensiblesection upon a supporting member comprising a bracket, connecting means'bea tween said section-and bra'cket for. pivotally mountingyr'elativelytoeach other saidrsectio'n and bracket latching means connected with said pivotal. connecting means, said latching fmeans .being operable to automatically lock. said distensible section transversely to said supporting member, and: including releasing -means whereby said distensiblesectionzmay be moved from .saidaforementioned transverse position. v a I 3. .In a rackof the character'described, a

distensible section comprising lazy tongsga supporting member for said tongs, a bracket for SiLlCl member, pivotal mounting between said memberand bracket, and latching means I between said member and bracket to hold said tongs locked in predetermined'angular posif'tion to the bracket.

4. .In alrack of the; character described, a

links comprising" lazy tongs, a supporting member for said tongs, a bracket fOF' Sibl "member and I pivotal mounting between: said rmember and bracket, sa dlazy tongs having connectormembers for supporting hangers 51 n pivotal relation :thereto in parallelisnrto 5. Inarrack of the character described comrisin a' su )orten a in bracket laz D Z) D {3 tongs connected to said bracket, said lazy branches, said hangers being pivotally mounted to said portions, and means for limiiting the pivotal movements of said hangers V relatively to said portions.

' 6. In a rack of the character described, a distensible section comprising lazy tongs, means for'mounting said lazy tongs for bodily pivotal movement vertically and horizontally, means for limiting the distensible lnovement of said lazy tongs and a-latching member for retaining said lazy tongs in the fully closed position when vertically disposed.

7. In a rack'of the character described, dis "13811811318 sections arranged to move substantially in a single plane, a supporting bracket therefor, an intermedlate member connecting said sections to said bracket and a common pivot member for said intermediate member and bracket, said pivot member including means to lock said intermediate member and bracket in predetermined angular position relatively toeach other.

i 8. In a rack of the character described, a distensible section comprising lazy tongs, a plate for said tongs, a supporting bracket to which said plate is connected, a common pivot rod connecting said plate and bracket for pivotal movement, said pivot rod being mounted for longitudinal movement and latching means carried by said rod to hold said plate and bracket in predetermined an gular relationship.

9. A rack of the character described, comprising a supporting bracket-arranged for horizontal disposition, an angle member connec te'd to said bracket, a lazy tong assembly mounted on and aflixed from one end of said lazy tong assembly to said angle member, said assembly cooperating with said angle member to hold said lazy tongs independent- *ly in the horizontal position, in various distensible arrangements thereof, whereby said assembly may be viewed from all positions in "front of said bracket said lazy tongs having alternative branches thereof formed with supporting hangers of substantially the full lengthof said section and lazy-tongs, in the plane thereof,

10. A rackof-the character described, in-

cluding a distensibly mounted assembly and comprising supporting means. for hangers, said hangers being adapted to lie in the horizontal position, and comprising a plate formed with a plurality of spaced members terminating into a supporting hanger'bar forming stalls, and ears, or pivots formed on the opposite edges of said plate for engaging said supporting assembly.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name this 21st day of May, 1930.

SOL EDELI-IEIT. 

